Improvement in traction-wheels for locomotives



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J'. LARMANJ'AT'.I

TRAcTlzoN-WHEELS Foa LocoMoTIvEs.

No. 192,923. Patenteef Ju1y1o,1s77.

y/MM5@ N MDW 3 Sheets-S11eet2.

LARMANJAT. TRAcTIoN-'WHEELS'FOR LoCo-MoTrvEs. Y

N0- 192,9Z3. Patented j'uly 10, 1877.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3E J. LARMANJ'AT.

TRAfJ-TIoN-w/HEELS` Fon LooMoTIvEs.. Y No. 192,923. Patented Ju1y1o,1s77.`

NJETERS, PHGTmLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

' UNITED STATES rrrcn JEAN LABMANJAT, OF PARIS, FRANSE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACTlON-WHEELS FQ'R LOCOMOTIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l92.923, dated J uly-10, 1877 application filed April-19,1877 patentedin France, November 18, 1876, for fifteen years.

To all whomit may concern: A

Be it known that I, JEAN LARMANJAT, of

Paris, France, have invented Improvements in the Drivin g-Wheels of Locomotive-Engines, and in the permanent way; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed sheets ot' drawings, making a part of the same.

My invention relates to'an improvement upon that form of traction-wheel in which springseated teeth are arranged to project radially from the wheel, which teeth secure a better hold, and at the same time yield to any obstruction that may present itself.

My improvement consists in the means for controlling the said teeth, as hereinafterV described, whereby they may be allowed to project to engage with a rock-bar to increase the traction, or be withdrawn into the periphery of the wheel, as may be desired.

Figure 1 shows a face view, with the coverplate removed; Fig. 2, a transverse action of a railway-wheel, showing the way the teeth` are tted, and the internal construction of the wheel. Fig. 3 represents the cover-plate sep arately, and shows the circle of lugs on said plate, whereby the spring-teeth,V are retained, as hereinafter described. Fig. 4 shows a cross-- section, and Fig. 5 a side elevation, ot' the ordinary rail with a rack-rail alongside of it, and both fixed on a longitudinal sleeper. Fig. 6

' represents a plan of the sleeper with an improved metallic tiebar, H, bent at right angles at h h inside and outside the sleeper, to maintain the gage of the line.

Each spring-tooth A has attached to it a small spring-catch, B, which engages with the circle of lugs I in a circular groove, K, in

` plate F, which lugs serve to retain the teeth A withdrawn into the wheel, as represented in the case of the tooth A. The teeth A are fitted to slide in and out in sockets L in the body of the wheel, and have spiral springs C on their inner ends, by which .they are projected a certain distance (limited by the shoulders a or the teeth) beyond the periphery of the wheel, when the catches B are released from the lugs on plate F, which is effected while -the engine is traveling in the following D D, Fig. 1, are uw@ moers exea on the inQV ner face of the plate F, and received in circalar grooves M in the body of the wheel containing springs E. By turning plate F round on the wheel a distance equal to the width of t a lug, I, the spring-catches B will be no longer held by the lugs I, but will pass between them, and the teeth A will be projected outward by their springs C. As the wheel is rotating when the gear-teeth A are brought into action, it is sufficient to retard the plate F by any suitable means, by a brake, for example,

Vin order to release catches B from lugs I and cause the teeth to project. If the brake be now released the plate F will be returned to its original position by the springs E, so as to bring the lugs in plate F again in line with the spring-catches BA. Should any of the teeth now be driven inward by encountering any obstacle on the rack-rail, its catch B will slip over the lug I and the tooth will remain withdrawn into the wheel, as shown by the tooth A", Fig. 1, which, having passed beyond the toothed part of the rack-rail F', is driven in-l ward on arriving at a plain length or' rail provided at the end of the rack-rail. rIhis plain part is at least equal in length to the circumference ofthe wheel, so that the whole of the teeth of the wheel will be similarly driven inward immediately they are lno longer required, and thus form no obstacle to ordinary traveling. The plate F is fitted to rotate on the boss ofthe wheel, to which it is connected by bolts N passing through sufficiently elongated slots O to admit of the rotary movement of the plate F on the wheel.

This construction of wheel is moreparticularly applicable on lines with gradients exceeding one or two in one hundred, and the advantage of such an arrangement-of teeth coming into operation only at places where the driving-Wheels of the locomotive would moment sucient adhesion is obtained on the smooth lrail 4the teeth of the Wheel are caused to ride upon the teeth of the rack, instead of falling in the spaces between them, and they become not only useless but dangerous.

This objection is entirely obviated in theV wheel of this invention,the spring-teeth gear f ing instantly with the rack whenever it is provided on `the rails. To appreciate the gain in power realized, it is 'only necessary to mention that under ordinary circumstances theY tractive power of an engine is no more than one-seventh of its weigh-t, but by means 'ofA this invention the power is increased 'toupM ward of one-half its Weight.

I claim- `1. A'locomotive drive-Wheelhprovided with bined with v'catches for 'hold-ing them 'Withdra-'wn into the wheel,substantially -as and for the purpose described.

2. The drive-wheel, having the radially-arranged spring seated teeth, provided with spring-catches B, in combination with the concentric plate F, made adjustable upon itscenter, and having lugs I adapted to hold the said teeth in, when in one position, or be turned 'lto allow the same to project, substantially as described.

3. The -circularly-arranged spring E, and

lmovable 'block D, in combination with the Adrive-wheel having radially-arranged springseated teeth, having spring-catches, and with vthe adjustable plate F, having ylugs vI, sub- :stantia'llyas described, and for the purpose set forth.

JEAN LARMANJ'AT.

Witnesses:

. RoBT. M. lHooPER,

JEAN BAPTISTE ROLLAND. 

